If not for “Bad Belle,” MKO Abiola would have been president, – Obasanjo

According to former president Olusegun Obasanjo, the late philanthropist Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola would have become Nigeria’s president following the June 12, 1993 presidential election he apparently won if it weren’t for “bad belle,” a colloquialism for bad blood in Nigeria.

This was mentioned by Obasanjo, 85, in an address at the Baptist Boys’ High School (BBHS) Centenary Celebrations in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.
“Eyin Ni Iwe Wa: You Are Our Epistle” was the title of his speech.

About three decades have passed since Ibrahim Babangida, the country’s then-head of state, declared the June 12, 1993 presidential election invalid. The elderly former military head of state and ex-civilian president made the remark. Additionally, his remark comes just a few weeks before the presidential election on February 25, 2023. However, this is not the first time he has spoken publicly on the annulment of the presidential election held on June 12, 1993; in April 2021, he did the same at a gathering in Abeokuta.

On Wednesday, Obasanjo thanked the institution for turning out a galaxy of men and leaders, including MKO Abiola and hundreds of others, including himself.

He urged the next generation of old guys to run for president in order to generate three more Nigerian presidents than he and Ernest Shonekan, the former head of the interim national government, had.

The corporate sector, university, the military and paramilitary, civil society, traditional rulership, etc. all have notable old boys in today’s society.
Prof. Kayode Oyesiku, the current president of the BBHS Old Boys Association, is an example of this, remarked Obasanjo.

Yours truly, the son of Obasanjo, a modest war hero, former Military Head of State, and former President of Nigeria, must not have been forgotten, in my opinion. Chief M.K.O. Abiola, the acknowledged winner of the 1993 Presidential election and the first millionaire in Nigeria’s communications business, stood out from the competition.

“If it weren’t for Nigerian Bad Belle, M.K.O. Abiola would have been President, and with me in that position, we would have needed one more BBHS alum to lead us to a permanent location in BBHS after three times. And that presents a difficulty for the next wave of old dudes.

The former President also praised American Southern Baptist Convention missionaries for their “Great Commission effort,” which included establishing the institution as a component of Nigeria’s development.

He claimed that he wouldn’t be who he is today without BBHS.
“Again, encouraging us to always be mindful of our behaviour and character.
With pride, we might cite BBHS plus schooling.
It also helped me throughout my entire life to date.
I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for BBHS, he claimed.

To affect change for the better wherever we are, we must behave with humility, honesty, integrity, wisdom, courage, competence, and fear of God. These must continue to be our qualities and traits. We have to be unique.

Obasanjo, unquestionably one of Africa’s most illustrious individuals, served as Nigeria’s military ruler from February 1976 to October 1979 and as the nation’s democratically elected president from 1999 to 2007.